Way Down East (1920) – Lillian Gish in D.W. Griffith’s Silent Classic

Описание: WAY DOWN EAST was an old-fashioned melodrama even in 1920 when D.W. Griffith decided to film it. It's the kind of story that leaves itself open for spoofing, but Griffith approaches the story of a "mock marriage" and its aftermath with earnestness and a great eye for detail.
Aiding Griffith in bringing this story to life are three great stars: Lillian Gish as Anna, Richard Barthelmess as David, and Lowell Sherman as caddish Lennox. The supporting cast includes New England "types" that almost parody Dickens. Kate Bruce is the staunch mother, Creighton Hale the ditzy professor, Vivia Ogden the town gossip, Burr McIntosh the intolerant squire, Emily Fitzroy runs the hotel, etc.

The story of love, betrayal, tolerance, and redemption is slow moving and has (as usual in a Griffith film) subplots, but like the very river, all the actions and events slowly come together for the finale that left 1920 audiences in a frenzy. Indeed the ending is among the most famous in all silent films.

Gish is quite beautiful here. In her opening scene she is in her parlor with her mother making a broom, holding up the straw so that we see only her white cap and large expressive eyes. She's stunning. As Anna she goes through the gamut of shy maiden, young lover, wronged woman, timid servant, and town jezebel. Barthelmess is solid as the young and innocent David who falls in love with the servant girl.
Their final scenes in the blizzard (filmed on Long Island in a real storm) on the icy river (filmed in White River Junction, VT) are totally amazing. And they did not use stunt doubles. As Gish lies exhausted on the piece of ice she may or may not know that it's heading for the falls. There are scenes were her hand and hair trail in the icy river. Just amazing. Barthelmess uses the breaking ice as a trail so that he can reach Gish before it's too late. There are several shots where he falls off the ice or the ice breaks under him and he plunges into that wintry river. The entire sequence is as thrilling today as it was in 1920.
Gish once wrote that her long hair froze solid from being in the river water and snapped off with the ice.
WAY DOWN EAST is a great film.

#WayDownEast
#LillianGish
#silentfilms
#classiccinema
#FilmHistory
#RestoredFilm

Chapters:
0:00 – Opening titles & credits
2:00 – Anna Moore arrives in the city
15:00 – The fake marriage and betrayal
35:00 – Anna cast out and seeking work
55:00 – Life on the Bartlett farm
1:15:00 – Growing feelings between Anna and David
1:40:00 – Scandal exposed in the community
1:55:00 – Anna in the blizzard
2:05:00 – The ice‑floe rescue
2:20:00 – Final reconciliation

· Year: 1920
· Country: USA
· Format: black and white, silent
· Running time: 2h 25m
· Edit: Filmora
· Source: Internet Archive (copyright‑free print)

For silent‑film lovers
Perfect for fans of 1920s comedies, classic Hollywood, and silent‑era gems that deserve more attention.

New Collaborate click here:
list=PLhQZhKTOqE9U2wK8d8O5UDcq5tSKSlfTK&jct=lWD37HiFZtVPPxvBWYcaRw

Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976:
"Allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."

Thanks for watching "Way Down East" (1920), from the early 1920s. If you enjoy classic comedies and silent films, please explore the other movies on this channel and share this video with fellow film lovers. Any ads you see are placed by YouTube; this channel is not monetized.

Disclaimer: I do not own nor profit from this video. All rights belong to the original creators. This video is for educational and entertainment purposes only.

PLEASE NOTE: Anna's Burning Curiosity is "NOT a monetized YouTube page." I despise ads. If you see Parasitic Ads on any of my videos know that it was done "without my permission" by Google / YouTube.